Roman surnames are among the oldest documented names in Western history, and they carry a weight that few other naming traditions can match. The Romans used a sophisticated three-name system, the tria nominain which the nomen (the clan or family name) and the cognomen (the branch or personal surname) did the heavy lifting of identity. These names described ancestors, commemorated victories, recorded physical traits, and honored the gods, and many of them have never really gone away.
This list covers the most significant Roman surnames drawn from both the patrician families who dominated the early Republic and the plebeian clans who rose alongside them. Each entry is a genuine Roman name with a real, documented meaning. Whether you are researching Roman history, building a fictional world, or looking for a bold surname-as-first-name choice, these are the names worth knowing.
The Great Patrician Clan Names (Nomina)
The nomen identified a Roman’s gens, or clan. These patrician clan names were among the most powerful words in the Roman world.
Julius
The clan name of Rome’s most famous family, derived from the legendary Iulus, son of Aeneas. The name is likely connected to the Greek ioulosmeaning “downy-bearded” or “first beard,” though the Romans themselves linked it to Jupiter. Julius Caesar made this surname immortal.
Claudius
From the Latin claudusmeaning “lame” or “limping”, a physical descriptor that became one of the most powerful family names in Roman history. The Claudian gens produced consuls, emperors, and censors across centuries of Roman rule.
Cornelius
The nomen of the Cornelii, one of the oldest and most distinguished patrician clans. Its precise etymology is debated, but it may relate to the Latin cornumeaning “horn.” The family produced the Scipios, the Sullae, and a string of censors and consuls.
Aemilius
From the Latin root aemulusmeaning “rival” or “trying to equal.” The Aemilii were one of Rome’s oldest patrician families, with the Aemilian Way road named in their honor.
Fabius
Derived from the Latin fabameaning “bean”, specifically the broad bean. The Fabii were an ancient patrician gens best remembered for Quintus Fabius Maximus, the general whose delaying tactics against Hannibal earned him the cognomen Verrucosus and the nickname “the Delayer.”
Valerius
From the Latin valeremeaning “to be strong” or “to be healthy.” The Valerii were one of Rome’s founding clans, traditionally arriving with Romulus himself, and the name remained prominent through the imperial period.
Furius
Likely derived from the Latin furiameaning “fury” or “passion.” The Furii produced Marcus Furius Camillus, considered Rome’s second founder after he drove out the Gauls in the fourth century BC.
Manlius
Of uncertain but ancient Latin origin, possibly related to manusmeaning “hand.” Marcus Manlius Capitolinus famously saved Rome from the Gauls when the sacred geese of Juno raised the alarm on the Capitoline Hill.
Postumius
From the Latin postumusmeaning “last” or “born after the father’s death.” An ancient patrician nomen carried by several prominent consuls and dictators of the early Republic.
Quinctius
Derived from the Latin quintusmeaning “fifth,” suggesting the family may have originally been the fifth branch of a larger clan or born in the fifth month. Titus Quinctius Flamininus was the general who famously proclaimed Greek freedom at the Isthmian Games in 196 BC.
Servilius
Connected to the Latin servusmeaning “slave” or “servant,” though in a clan context it likely honored a divine servant or a priestly role. The Servilii were a major patrician family of the middle Republic.
Sempronius
Of uncertain etymology, possibly related to an Etruscan personal name. The Sempronii were a large plebeian clan that included the reforming tribunes Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus.
Sulpicius
Origin debated, but an ancient patrician nomen attested from the earliest years of the Republic. The Sulpicii held the consulship repeatedly and included several important jurists and pontiffs.
Pinarius
One of Rome’s oldest sacerdotal families, connected to the cult of Hercules at the Ara Maxima. The name’s exact root is uncertain but the family is documented in Rome’s earliest legendary accounts.
Nautius
An ancient patrician nomen of uncertain origin, associated with one of Rome’s most venerable priestly lineages. The Nautii held the sacred rites of Minerva by hereditary right.
Famous Patrician Cognomina
The cognomen was the most personal of the Roman names, often starting as a nickname and becoming hereditary. Patrician cognomina are especially rich in meaning.
Caesar
The most famous Roman cognomen of all, and its origin is genuinely debated. Ancient sources proposed connections to the Latin caedere (to cut, possibly referring to a Caesarean birth), caesaries (a head of hair), or even the Moorish word for elephant. Julius Caesar turned it into a title that became the word for emperor in multiple languages.
Scipio
From the Latin scipiomeaning “staff” or “walking stick.” The name was originally a cognomen within the Cornelian gens, and Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, who defeated Hannibal at Zama, made it one of the most celebrated surnames in Roman history.
Brutus
From the Latin brutusmeaning “heavy,” “dull,” or “stupid.” The legendary Lucius Junius Brutus reputedly feigned stupidity to survive Tarquin’s purges before founding the Republic, and Marcus Junius Brutus gave the name a permanent place in history and Shakespeare.
Cincinnatus
From the Latin cincinnusmeaning “curly-haired.” Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus became a symbol of Roman virtue, called from his farm to serve as dictator, defeating Rome’s enemies, and returning to his plow within sixteen days.
Torquatus
From the Latin torquesmeaning “twisted necklace” or “collar.” Titus Manlius earned this cognomen after defeating a giant Gaul in single combat and taking his torc as a trophy.
Corvus
Latin for “raven.” Marcus Valerius earned this name, according to legend, when a raven landed on his helmet during single combat with a Gaul and pecked at the enemy’s face, securing the victory.
Calvus
From the Latin calvusmeaning “bald.” A physical descriptor that became a hereditary cognomen in several families, most notably within the Julii and the Licinii.
Rufus
From the Latin rufusmeaning “red-haired.” One of the most common Roman cognomina, used across both patrician and plebeian families to mark red-haired ancestors.
Flaccus
From the Latin flaccusmeaning “flap-eared” or “with drooping ears.” A physical nickname that became hereditary in the Valerian and Fulvian gentes, among others. The poet Horace’s full name was Quintus Horatius Flaccus.
Nasica
From the Latin nasusmeaning “nose,” with the diminutive suggesting “pointed nose” or “sharp nose.” A cognomen used within the Cornelian gens, borne by several prominent members of the Scipio branch.
Pulvillus
From the Latin pulvillusmeaning “little cushion.” A quirky physical or behavioral cognomen used within the Horatian gens.
Agrippa
Possibly from the Latin aegre and partusmeaning “born with difficulty” (a breech birth), though some scholars connect it to a Greek root. Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Augustus’s greatest general and admiral, gave the name its defining fame.
Regulus
From the Latin regulusmeaning “little king” or “petty king.” Marcus Atilius Regulus, the general captured by Carthage who reportedly returned to his captors rather than break his word, became a Roman byword for honor.
Crassus
From the Latin crassusmeaning “thick,” “fat,” or “dense.” Marcus Licinius Crassus, the wealthiest man in Roman history and member of the First Triumvirate, is its most famous bearer.
Sulla
Possibly from a root meaning “spotted” or “freckled,” though the etymology is not fully settled. Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the dictator who marched on Rome twice and rewrote the constitution, made it one of the most electrifying names in late Republican history.
Cicero
From the Latin cicermeaning “chickpea.” Family tradition held that an ancestor had a chickpea-shaped wart on his nose. Marcus Tullius Cicero was urged to change the name but reportedly said he would make it more famous than any noble name — and he did.
Catullus
A diminutive of Catusmeaning “clever” or “shrewd.” The lyric poet Gaius Valerius Catullus immortalized this cognomen in Latin literature.
Lepidus
From the Latin lepidusmeaning “charming,” “elegant,” or “pleasant.” Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the third member of the Second Triumvirate alongside Antony and Octavian, is its most famous bearer.
Laevinus
From the Latin laevusmeaning “left-handed.” A cognomen used in the Valerian gens across several generations of Roman magistrates.
Barbatus
From the Latin barbameaning “beard.” In an era when Romans were typically clean-shaven, a bearded ancestor warranted the distinction. The sarcophagus of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus, consul in 298 BC, is one of the oldest surviving Latin inscriptions.
Plebeian Clan Names and Surnames
Rome’s plebeian families developed their own distinguished nomina and cognomina, and by the late Republic, many were indistinguishable in prestige from the oldest patrician houses.
Tullius
An ancient nomen possibly of Oscan or Etruscan origin, borne by the sixth king of Rome, Servius Tullius, and made famous for all time by Marcus Tullius Cicero. Its precise meaning is debated.
Marius
Possibly derived from the Latin mas/marismeaning “male” or “virile,” or connected to the god Mars. Gaius Marius, the general who reformed the Roman army and held an unprecedented seven consulships, defined this name for posterity.
Licinius
Of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Latin liciummeaning “thread” or “fringe.” The Licinii were a major plebeian family whose tribunes passed the Licinian-Sextian laws in 367 BC, opening the consulship to plebeians.
Pompeius
Possibly derived from the Oscan pompemeaning “five,” or from a root connected to a triumphal procession. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus — Pompey the Great — gave this name its legendary status.
Antonius
Of uncertain, possibly Etruscan origin. The nomen of the Antonii, a plebeian family whose most famous son, Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony), allied with Cleopatra and fought Octavian for control of the Roman world.
Hortensius
From the Latin hortusmeaning “garden.” Quintus Hortensius Hortalus was Rome’s greatest orator before Cicero eclipsed him, and the Hortensian law he passed as dictator in 287 BC gave plebeian assemblies the force of law.
Caecilius
Possibly from the Latin caecusmeaning “blind,” or from an Oscan root. A major plebeian nomen whose most culturally significant bearer is the playwright Caecilius Statius, and whose branch the Metelli became one of Rome’s most powerful families.
Calpurnius
Of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Latin calpara vessel used in sacrificial rites. The Calpurnii Pisones were a prominent plebeian family who produced consuls and governors across the Republic and Empire.
Didius
Possibly from the Latin dives (wealthy) through an archaic form, though the etymology is not certain. Titus Didius was a prominent general of the late Republic, and Marcus Didius Julianus infamously “purchased” the Roman Empire at auction in AD 193.
Livius
Of uncertain, possibly Etruscan origin. The Livii were a plebeian family who produced Marcus Livius Salinator, consul and censor, and the historian Titus Livius — Livy — who wrote Rome’s foundational narrative history.
Terentius
Possibly from the Latin teromeaning “to rub” or “to wear away,” suggesting a craftsman ancestor. The playwright Publius Terentius Afer — Terence — made this nomen a staple of Latin literature.
Naevius
From the Latin naevusmeaning “birthmark” or “mole.” Gnaeus Naevius, the early Roman poet and playwright, is its most notable bearer.
Ennius
Of Oscan origin, the nomen of Quintus Ennius, the poet considered the father of Latin literature. Its precise meaning is uncertain but it is well documented as a genuine Roman family name.
Plautius
Possibly from the Latin plautusmeaning “flat-footed.” The playwright Titus Maccius Plautus made a version of this name famous, and Aulus Plautius commanded the Claudian invasion of Britain in AD 43.
Gracchus
Possibly of Etruscan or Umbrian origin. As a cognomen within the Sempronian gens, it became one of the most politically charged names in Rome after the reforming tribunes Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and Gaius Sempronius Gracchus shook the Republic to its foundations.
Metellus
Possibly from the Greek metellonmeaning “mine” or “quarry,” or from a Latin root meaning “hired soldier.” As a cognomen of the Caecilii, the Metelli dominated Roman politics through the second and first centuries BC.
Paullus
From the Latin paulusmeaning “small” or “humble.” Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus, who defeated Perseus of Macedon at Pydna in 168 BC, gave this cognomen its greatest military luster.
Scaevola
From the Latin scaevusmeaning “left-handed.” The legendary Gaius Mucius Scaevola earned this name after thrusting his right hand into a fire to show Etruscan king Porsenna that Romans did not fear death.
Strabo
From the Latin strabōmeaning “squinting” or “cross-eyed.” A physical cognomen used in several families, including as a cognomen of Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, Pompey the Great’s father.
Asina
From the Latin asinusmeaning “donkey” or “ass.” A memorable cognomen within the Cornelian gens, probably originating as a sharp joke about an ancestor. Romans were refreshingly blunt with their nicknames.
Macer
From the Latin macermeaning “lean” or “thin.” A physical cognomen used in several plebeian families, including the Licinii and the Aemilii.
Naso
From the Latin nasusmeaning “nose,” in the sense of “big-nosed.” The poet Publius Ovidius Naso — Ovid — carried this as his cognomen, making it permanently associated with Rome’s greatest love poet.
Piso
From the Latin piso or pinsomeaning “to pound grain” or “to mill.” The Calpurnii Pisones were a powerful family, and several Pisones appear in the dramatic conspiracies of the Julio-Claudian era.
Balbus
From the Latin balbusmeaning “stammering” or “stuttering.” A candid physical cognomen used in several families, notably Lucius Cornelius Balbus, a close ally of Julius Caesar.
Figulus
From the Latin figulusmeaning “potter.” Gaius Marcius Figulus held the consulship twice, and the name is a fine example of how Roman cognomina could record an ancestor’s trade without shame.
Imperial and Late Roman Surnames
As Rome moved from Republic to Empire, new surnames rose to prominence, many carrying the marks of military glory, dynastic ambition, or provincial origin.
Augustus
From the Latin augeremeaning “to increase” or “to consecrate,” with connotations of divine favor and sacred authority. Octavian took this as an honorific title in 27 BC, and it became the standard title for Roman emperors.
Vespasianus
The nomen of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, founder of the Flavian dynasty. Its root is possibly connected to vespermeaning “evening” or “west,” suggesting a family origin in western Italy.
Flavius
From the Latin flavusmeaning “golden” or “yellow,” likely referring to fair or blond hair. The Flavian dynasty (Vespasian, Titus, Domitian) bore this as their nomen, and it remained a prestigious surname well into the late Roman and Byzantine periods.
Aurelius
From the Latin aurummeaning “gold.” Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor who wrote the Meditationsmade this one of the most admired names in Western history.
Constantinus
From the Latin constansmeaning “steadfast” or “constant.” Constantine the Great, who legalized Christianity and founded Constantinople, carried this as his cognomen, and it became a dynastic name for centuries afterward.
Diocletianus
Derived from the place name Doclea in Dalmatia, combined with the Latin suffix -anus indicating origin. Diocletian, who reorganized the Roman Empire and launched the last great persecution of Christians, was born Diocles and took this full form upon accession.
Nerva
Possibly from the Latin nervusmeaning “sinew” or “strength.” Marcus Cocceius Nerva was the first of the Five Good Emperors, chosen by the Senate after Domitian’s assassination.
Traianus
From the nomen Traius or Traicius, of Spanish provincial origin. Marcus Ulpius Traianus — Trajan — was the first emperor born outside Italy and expanded the Empire to its greatest territorial extent.
Hadrianus
From Hadriathe Adriatic coastal town from which the Adriatic Sea takes its name. The emperor Hadrian, who built his famous wall across Britain and reshaped Roman architecture, bore this as his cognomen.
Severus
From the Latin severusmeaning “stern,” “strict,” or “serious.” Lucius Septimius Severus, founder of the Severan dynasty and first emperor of African origin, gave this name its imperial weight.
Gallus
From the Latin Gallusmeaning “a Gaul” or “a rooster.” Used both as an ethnic marker and as a cognomen, it appears across Republican and Imperial families. Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus was emperor from 251 to 253 AD.
Probus
From the Latin probusmeaning “good,” “upright,” or “virtuous.” Marcus Aurelius Probus, emperor from 276 to 282 AD, was celebrated as a capable and just ruler, making the name feel earned.
Tacitus
From the Latin tacitusmeaning “silent” or “unspoken.” The historian Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus made this one of the most respected names in classical literature, and there was also an emperor of that name, though he reigned only briefly in 275 to 276 AD.
Carus
From the Latin carusmeaning “dear” or “beloved.” Marcus Aurelius Carus was emperor in 282 to 283 AD, and the name has a warmth unusual among Roman imperial cognomina.
Julianus
The adjectival form of Julius, meaning “of the Julian family.” Julian the Apostate, the last pagan emperor, bore this as his cognomen, and it became a fully independent given name in the medieval period.
Military Honorifics Used as Surnames
Some of Rome’s most striking surnames were earned on the battlefield, awarded as honorifics and then passed to descendants as hereditary cognomina.
Africanus
Meaning “of Africa” or “the African conqueror.” Awarded to Publius Cornelius Scipio after his victory over Hannibal at Zama in 202 BC, it became the most coveted military honorific of the Republic.
Macedonicus
Meaning “of Macedon” or “conqueror of Macedon.” Awarded to Quintus Caecilius Metellus after his campaigns in Macedonia and to Lucius Aemilius Paullus after Pydna, it was one of several geographic honorifics modeled on Africanus.
Numidicus
Meaning “of Numidia” or “conqueror of Numidia.” Awarded to Quintus Caecilius Metellus for his campaigns against Jugurtha, before Marius superseded him and took credit for the final victory.
Asiaticus
Meaning “of Asia” or “conqueror of Asia.” Awarded to Lucius Cornelius Scipio after his defeat of Antiochus III at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC, making the Scipio brothers dual holders of geographic honorifics.
Dalmaticus
Meaning “of Dalmatia” or “conqueror of Dalmatia.” Awarded to Lucius Caecilius Metellus Dalmaticus for his campaigns in Illyricum in the second century BC.
Creticus
Meaning “of Crete” or “conqueror of Crete.” Awarded to Quintus Caecilius Metellus after his brutal pacification of Crete in 67 BC, completing the Metelli’s remarkable collection of geographic cognomina.
Germanicus
Meaning “of Germania” or “conqueror of the Germans.” Awarded to Nero Claudius Drusus and then to his son, the beloved general Germanicus Julius Caesar, whose death under suspicious circumstances was mourned across the Roman world.
Britannicus
Meaning “of Britain” or “conqueror of Britain.” Given to the emperor Claudius after his invasion of Britain in AD 43, and then to his son, the tragic Britannicus, who was poisoned by Nero.
Parthicus
Meaning “of Parthia” or “conqueror of the Parthians.” Awarded to the emperor Trajan after his Parthian campaigns and claimed by several later emperors, though not always with the same justification Trajan had.
Dacius
Meaning “of Dacia” or “conqueror of Dacia.” Trajan received Dacicus as a formal title after his two Dacian wars, commemorated on the spiral reliefs of Trajan’s Column in Rome.
Surnames Rooted in Roman Religion and Augury
Rome’s religious life left a clear mark on its surnames. Several cognomina and nomina connect directly to priestly offices, divine names, or sacred practices.
Augurinus
From the Latin augurmeaning “one who reads omens” or “diviner.” A cognomen within the Minucian gens, recording an ancestor’s connection to Rome’s college of augurs, whose approval was required before any major public action.
Pontifex
From the Latin pons (bridge) and facere (to make), meaning “bridge-builder,” though its religious sense of “high priest” became dominant. Used occasionally as a cognomen to mark priestly ancestry.
Flamen
From an ancient Latin root meaning “priest” (cognate with the Sanskrit brahman). A title and occasional cognomen for priests dedicated to specific deities, including the Flamen Dialis (priest of Jupiter) and Flamen Martialis (priest of Mars).
Camillus
From the Latin camillusmeaning a freeborn boy who assisted at religious rites. The historical Marcus Furius Camillus carried this as his cognomen, and the word’s sacred associations gave it a gravitas beyond its humble origins.
Merula
From the Latin merulameaning “blackbird.” A cognomen used in the Cornelian gens, and the bird’s association with augury gave it a quietly religious resonance. Lucius Cornelius Merula was appointed interrex consul suffect in 87 BC during Marius’s final siege of Rome.
How to Choose the Right Roman Surname for Your Purposes
If you are choosing a Roman surname as a given name for a child, the cognomina tend to work far better than the nomina. Names like Aurelius, Brutus, Rufus, Camillus, Corvus, and Carus have real phonetic presence in modern English and carry their meaning visibly on the surface. Parents are already using Aurelius, Rufus, and even Cassius (not in this list, but a close cousin) with genuine success.
For historical fiction or worldbuilding, understanding the three-part system matters. A patrician character in the early Republic should have an ancient nomen from the top section of this list — Cornelius, Valerius, Fabius — paired with a cognomen that fits their family branch. A military man might carry an honorific like Africanus or Germanicus. A plebeian rising through the ranks would wear a nomen like Marius, Livius, or Tullius.
Pay attention to meaning when choosing for resonance. Roman cognomina are unusually honest: they record baldness, stammering, flat feet, and big noses alongside strength, virtue, and divine favor. That honesty is part of their appeal. A name like Probus (upright, good) or Carus (beloved) carries a genuine sentiment. Brutus (heavy, dull) carries an irony that its most famous bearer spent a lifetime trying to outrun.
For pet names, the short, punchy cognomina are ideal. Rufus, Corvus, Brutus, and Carus all work beautifully for animals, carrying Roman gravitas with a lightness of syllable that feels natural shouted across a yard or whispered in greeting.
Roman surnames reward the research. The more you know about a name’s original bearer and original meaning, the richer it becomes — and very few naming traditions in human history have left us this much documented context to work with.
